Public meeting set for Fresh Kills park plans

The Parks Department wants to know, and will hold a public meeting next Wednesday at the American Legion Gold Star post, 17 Cannon Avenue, Travis, at 7 p.m., to discuss plans for and stir up interest in the Travis-facing North Park at the former landfill.

The proposed 250-acre park is set to open in 2009 and will mainly be used for passive recreation with large open spaces for people to enjoy nature, attend picnics and participate at community gatherings. A 1.5-mile multi-use path, meant for walking, jogging or bicycling, will surround the perimeter of the former trash mound. There will also be a nature education center, bird overlooks, fishing docks and areas where people can launch canoes or kayaks. The top of the mound will feature open fields and lawns where people can fly kites, play games or sunbathe.

"We want to check in with the community," said Eloise Hirsh, administrator of Fresh Kills Park. "We want to make sure we're on the right page."

North Park will be the first area of the 2,200-acre former landfill to be converted into park space, and the city has already set aside $120 million for development of North and South Parks, the latter is expected to be completed in 2015.

A final master plan is expected to be complete for the entire Fresh Kills Park in late 2008. The second phase of the project, from 2015-25, will include development of New Springville-facing East Park. Phase 3, from 2025-36,will complete the park with development of the Arthur Kill-facing West Park.

The North Park area of Fresh Kills was closed in 1993 and stopped accepting trash in 1998.